POLS1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Collective Action, Kyoto Protocol, Freeriding
Lecture 2 - 2/03 - Rational Choice
Policy Cycle -
Agenda Setting
Decision Making
Implementation
Evaluation
Continuation/Termination
Repetition
Popular View of Politics -
Politicians are selfish
They take the easy road - minimal cost, maximum benefit
Policy is a result of politicians chasing their self-interests
Heart of rational choice: we are self-interested people
It is an explanatory theory and predictive
Rational Choice Approach:
Application of the methods of economics to politics:
A focus upon individuals in decision making
Individuals are self-interested
Individuals are rational - they pursue the best route to achieve a goal (utility
maximisation)
Use of models
Sees groups as a collection of individuals
Vandevelde:
Homo Economicus
If we know the costs and benefits of any action, we will take the route that maximise
benefits and reduces costs, we can therefore explain and predict how others will
behave
Critical Reflection (Green + Shapiro):
Are we all self-interested?
Are we always pursuing things rationally?
Are there human traits that are outside the theory?
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Document Summary
They take the easy road - minimal cost, maximum benefit. Policy is a result of politicians chasing their self-interests. Heart of rational choice: we are self-interested people. Application of the methods of economics to politics: Individuals are rational - they pursue the best route to achieve a goal (utility maximisation) If we know the costs and benefits of any action, we will take the route that maximise benefits and reduces costs, we can therefore explain and predict how others will behave. Prisoner s dilemma - a form of game theory, uses rational choice theory to predict behaviours. Solutions to the dilemma indicate that we would always confess/betray. Tells us we can predict decisions through an analysis of how individuals calculate cost. Collective action failure - individuals acting in their own self-interest prevent outcomes that would benefit everyone, e. g. tragedy of the commons (grazing field example) When we pursue rational choices, the group suffers.
